Book excerpt: Plant diseases cause serious threats to the successful cultivation of horticultural crops, resulting in huge losses in their yields. These plant diseases are known to affect horticultural crops at various growth stages and reduce the yield as well as quality of fruits and vegetables. Diseases also cause subsequent postharvest transit and storage losses. This 4-volume set provides the latest diagnostic information along with effective management solutions to the problems of diseases of field crop plants caused by phytopathogens. In volume 1, each chapter includes an introduction, disease symptoms, causal organisms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management of economically important plants. With contributions from national scientists who are engaged in teaching, research, and extension services who share their experiences here, the chapters explore apples, amla (or Indian gooseberry), avocado, Indian bael, banana, Indian jujube, citrus, grapes, guava, hazelnut, and more. The volumes provide an abundance of information for understanding and managing plant diseases, with emphasis on diagnostic techniques. The collection includes: Volume 1: Fruit Crops Volume 2: Vegetable Crops Volume 3: Ornamental Plants and Spice Crops Volume 4: Important Plantation Crops, Medicinal Crops, and Mushrooms